There’s a “Fruitvale Station” movie poster at Fruitvale Station

I’m a 10-year regular at BART’s Fruitvale Station, and this morning noticed a movie poster for “Fruitvale Station” near the turnstiles inside the station — not far from the tragic events that inspired the film.

“Fruitvale Station” was written and directed by Oakland’s Ryan Coogler, and covers the last day of Oscar Grant’s life before he was fatally shot by a BART police officer on New Year’s Day 2009. It won the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award, and is set for wide release this Friday.

Contacted by the Chronicle, BART spokeswoman Luna Salaver said there was no controversy with BART regarding the ads.

BART officials said there are 65 “Fruitvale Station” movie ads in their 32 stations, and none inside the BART cars. BART has ultimate control over the ads in their stations and set the guidelines, but they contract with an outside agency that manages the sales and posting of the ads.

Salaver was a liaison between the filmmaker and the transit agency. She said BART allowed Coogler to film at the station, providing things like accurate uniforms and production design tips. (Example: BART suggested that the transit agent’s office in the film include holiday decorations, which is a common BART tradition.)

“I think that Ryan had said it was his intention to show his love for Oakland and the people of Oakland, and he really succeeded,” said Salaver, who saw an early screening of the film.

She added: “The film is really about humanizing Oscar Grant, and Ryan did a superb job.”

I’m not reviewing “Fruitvale Station” — Mick LaSalle’s review for the Chronicle should be up Thursday afternoon. Like any good Oaklander, I plan to see it at the Grand Lake Theater this weekend, and maybe later at the New Parkway.

Other colleagues at the Chronicle are working on “Fruitvale Station” stories set to run in the next few days. I’ll link to them when they appear.

PETER HARTLAUB is the pop culture critic at the San Francisco Chronicle and founder/editor of The Big Event. He takes requests. Contact him at phartlaub@sfchronicle.com. Follow him on Twitter @peterhartlaub. Follow The Big Event on Facebook.